Splinters: Part One

Part One | 40

"I didn't know Bella was coming," she admitted quietly.

I glanced at her, squeezing her hand. "Yeah."

It was a few seconds of silence before she said anything. "Do you think it'll be awkward?"

"What, you and Bella?"

"Yeah."

"I don't think so. Why would it be?"

She gave me a flat look. "C'mon, Brayden. I'm your girlfriend and she likes you. I haven't really seen her since Sweethearts."

I raised an eyebrow. "You haven't seen her at school?"

She shook her head. "Only at lunch, but I barely look over there anyway. That's not the point, though. The point is is that she and I will be only mere feet away from each other today."

"I think she's moved on, Collie."

She gave me a flat look. "You think?"

"I'm serious. I really don't think she still likes me."

"Hopefully," she muttered. We were both silent until her hand started getting sweaty and she didn't blink for a while.

I nudged her in the side just as we approached the bathrooms. "Don't get anxious."

"I'm not anxious."

"Yeah you are."

"No I'm not."

"Your hands are sweaty."

She dropped my hand with a slight attitude and wiped it on her shorts before crossing her arms. "Sorry."

I laughed. "It's okay."

Just then, both Collie and I hiked up the steps to enter the bathrooms.

"You gonna go, too?"

I shook my head. "I'll just wait here."

She raised her eyebrows before turning and entering the restroom. I leaned against the wooden walls and crossed my arms. I was thankful for the shade, the sun destined to beat on my pale skin. Just then, I heard giggling from the left of me. I looked in the direction, spotting two girls maybe a year younger than me, giggling.

Feeling self-conscious, I looked away, silently telling Collie to hurry.

"Hi," one said.

I glanced at her. She was taller and thinner than the other, and obviously more confident. She had long blonde hair with vibrant green eyes.

"H-hi," I replied.

The other, the brunette, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

The blonde pushed her friend in front of her. "This is my friend Tammy. Do you think she's pretty?"

Tammy's face paled and her mouth fell open, jerking her head over her shoulder and glaring at her friend. "Wha-, wait!"

"She's a bit shy," the blonde smirked.

"I'm sorry about her," Tammy apologized. "Becky, stop!"

"Yeah, Becky. Stop." Collie's irritated voice sounded as she stepped from the bathroom.

I closed my eyes, half in relief and half in frustration. She's mad. Opening them again, I caught my girlfriend glaring at the two girls as she came and stood next to me, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. Her hands were cold, probably because she washed them with cold water.